The Main Street America Institute is excited to offer the Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street course! Generously sponsored by U.S. Bank, this three-week live, online course will prepare local leaders to uplift small businesses in their communities. Through learning how to identify place-based assets and resources for small businesses, participants will better understand how to collaboratively build a strong community support network that centers economic vitality. Combining interactive classroom sessions and a hands-on course project, participants will gain new skills and develop a distribution-ready small business guide for the local Main Street.

This course is led by Main Street America's Senior Manager of Education, Tasha Sams, and features instruction from an array of Main Street America staff, including:

Jackie Swihart, Program Officer for Revitalization Services
Gustavo Ustariz, Senior Manager for Entrepreneur and Small Business Support
Joi Cuartero Austin, Senior Program Officer, Economic Vitality
Frankye Payne, Director of Chicago Main Streets

MSA staff will be joined by expert guest speakers, including:
Abby Ober, Director of Engagement at Main Street Ventures in Cincinnati, Ohio
Bailey Richards, Downtown Coordinator, the City of Hazard, Kentucky
Ilana Preuss, Founder and CEO of Recast City
...and more to be announced!

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn the six categories of a small business support environment, and how each is connected to and dependent upon place.
2. Understand your role in the support of small business owners and entrepreneurs.
3. Identify local resources and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs.
4. Create and distribute a small business guide for your local Main Street district.

Course Format: The Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street course is carefully structured to pair independent learning with dynamic instruction. Participants will be responsible for learning foundational concepts before class sessions and expected to actively participate in class time activities that involve connection, engagement, and higher order thinking. This online course consists of two-hour live online sessions – one per week for three weeks. Participants will also spend an average of three (3) hours outside of class each week learning foundational concepts and working on the overarching course project. Over the three-week experience, participants are strongly encouraged to devote a minimum of five (5) hours each week to this course.

Live participation is highly encouraged as the course’s interactive format (breakout sessions, small group activities, live speaker Q+A sessions, etc.) is most beneficial in a live, group setting. For participants who are unable to tune in live, sessions will be recorded and made available on-demand until October 25, 2024.

Scholarship Opportunity:

About & Eligibility: As part of U.S. Bank's sponsorship, a limited number of scholarships (20 total) providing registration at a reduced rate of $100 are available to participants serving communities located within U.S. Bank markets. Communities must be located within 20 miles of a U.S. Bank location to be considered, with special priority given to participants serving districts located in the states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Application & Awards: Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and applicants will receive determinations by August 25, 2024. Scholarship recipients will receive a discount code to use at registration. Eligible and interested participants are encouraged to submit scholarship applications as soon as possible and before registering for the course. The application will close on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CDT, or when all scholarships have been awarded.
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Dates: September 5, 12, and 19, 2024

Schedule: September 5, 2:00-4:30 p.m. CDT, September 12 and 19, 2:00-4:00 p.m. CDT

Pricing: $275 Member | $350 Non-Member

Please note: To receive member pricing, use code SSBOMS24 at check-out.

Credit: BIG NEWS! Completion of the 2024 Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street course WILL count toward MSA’s new certification pathway. This means that both new and current MSAI participants can receive credit toward certification.

Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel your registration, please email MSAI@mainstreet.org. Cancellations communicated more than 14 days in advance of the first course date will be refunded in full. Cancellations occurring less than 14 days in advance of the first course date will be offered a 50% refund. Please note there is a $25.00 processing fee for any cancelled registration.